CAPF AC 2023 Q41: Geography – Economic & Mineral Geography

CAPF AC 2023, Paper I (General Ability and Intelligence) · Geography

Using the code given below identify the type of farming on the basis of given characteristics : 1. The produce is consumed entirely or mainly by the family who work the land or tend the livestock. 2. If a small surplus is produced, it may be sold or bartered. 3. It is generally small scale and labour intensive with little or no technological input. Code :

(a) Extensive farming
(b) Intensive farming
(c) Subsistence farming
(d) Commercial farming

Answer: (c) Subsistence farming

Explanation

Which farming system fits

How to think: read the three clues and match each to a system.

Farm produce eaten by the farmer's own family, a small surplus only, small scale and hand labour: this is subsistence farming.

Type	Aim	Scale and inputs
Extensive	Large area, low yield per hectare	Big farms, few workers
Intensive	High yield from a small plot	Heavy labour, fertiliser, irrigation
Subsistence	Feed the farming family	Small plots, mostly labour, little technology
Commercial	Sale in the market for profit	Large inputs, machines, chemicals

Clue check: clue 1 (own consumption), clue 2 (surplus bartered) and clue 3 (small, labour-heavy, little technology) all describe subsistence farming.

Answer: (c) Subsistence farming.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Incorrect. Extensive farming is done on large areas; the clues say small scale.
(b) Incorrect. Intensive farming aims at high yields and is not mainly for family use.
(c) CORRECT. Output eaten by the farm family, with little technology, is subsistence farming.
(d) Incorrect. Commercial farming grows crops mainly to sell.

Key point

Subsistence farming: crops for the family's own use; primitive (shifting) and intensive subsistence types. Commercial farming: crops for sale, large inputs (wheat in Prairies, plantations).

Remember

Eaten by the family, small farm, little technology: subsistence.

Common mistakes

Mixing up intensive subsistence and intensive commercial farming.
Treating 'small surplus is sold' as a sign of commercial farming.
Confusing extensive with subsistence; extensive refers to size.

Exam tip

Educated guess: 'consumed entirely or mainly by the family' is the textbook definition of subsistence, and each of the other clues repeats the same idea.

Sources

NCERT Class XII Geography — Fundamentals of Human Geography, Chapter 5 (Primary Activities: Subsistence Agriculture and Commercial Agriculture)
NCERT Class VIII Geography — Resources and Development, Chapter 4 (Agriculture)

← Q40All CAPF AC 2023 questionsQ42 →

Practise CAPF AC PYQs Take a timed mock